Death Penalty Debate About To Start

Death Penalty Debate About To Start

Baltimore and Harford County Pat McDonough talks about his legislation to allow the death penalty in certain cases. Download This File

A debate on repealing the death penalty is about to get underway in Annapolis.

NAACP leaders will join clergy and death penalty opponents on Tuesday at a rally for a repeal.

Meanwhile, Baltimore County Republican Delegate Pat McDonough says he will introduce his own legislation to mandate the death penalty for the killings of correctional, and police officers, mass murderers, contact killers and serial killers.

McDonough says he is introducing the legislation in response to the Newtown, Connecticut school massacre.

McDonough also wants to shorten the time for death penalty appeals, and he says lawmakers will have several chances to vote on his proposal.

"We're going to talk about gun violence. We're going to talk about crime. We're going to talk about law. We're going to talk about the death penalty, and the fact of the matter is we are going to bring it to the floor of the House in the form of an amendment, and we are going to get a vote on everyone of these bills," McDonough told WBAL News.